Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

10/17/2010 at 3:05pm

Looking for an explanation on the phantom Mario Fannin touchdown in the first half of the Arkansas-Auburn game?  You know, the one where he appeared to fumble at the goal line, but was credited for a touchdown and the game’s replay official upheld the call?

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News posted the following statement from the league to his blog:

In a prepared statement issued through a league spokesman, SEC coordinator of officials Rogers Redding said: "The head linesman signaled touchdown. The line judge signaled fumble. After discussion between the two, it was agreed upon that the head linesman had a better unobstructed view of the play. The call on the field became a touchdown and was then reviewed in the replay booth. The replay official did not have enough video evidence to overturn the call on the field."

There you have it. The play was signaled for a touchdown. And the signaled touchdown was upheld.

That’s great, except there is no video evidence of the touchdown being signaled. What does exist — via video and eyewitness accounts — is an official throwing his bean bag to mark a fumble on the field.

Below we have video of the play from our friends at Illegalshift.com. Kudos to them for taking time to capture the moment and compile a look from several angles.

Look, Arkansas should have done more to win. Special teams and defensive breakdowns killed this team’s chances at knocking off Auburn.

But once again league officials — particularly in the replay booth — blew a big call in a big game. Why does this continue to happen?

Perhaps the league can offer up an explanation on that one?

Tagged: Auburn Tigers, Southeastern Conference, Rogers Redding